Adjustable burial casket



July 5, 1938. P. D. SKAHEN ADJUSTABLE BURIAL GASKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 4, 1936 INVENTOR. J M/ I f I ATTORNEYS' July 5, P. D. SKAHENADJUSTABLE BURIAL CASKET Filed Dec. 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q J IN/VENTR. BY r f? ATTORNEYS,

Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to burial caskets and has for its primary objecta burial casket of standard size which is adjustable for bodies ofdifferent widths, so that a casket of standard or minimum size can beused for the smallest or largest bodies. In this connection, attentionis called to the fact that heretofore, caskets for the bodies of adultshave been in several sizes or Widths, from 22 or 23 inches to 28 inches,

10 that is, with the body supporting surface from substantially 22 or 23to 28 inches, and the casket of the required width selected for theparticular body. This condition requires that the undertaker keep instock caskets of the various 15 widths in each class or style and alsoincreases the cost and retail prices compared with this burial casketadjustable for different sizes or widths of bodies.

It also has for its object a casket including a base and a boxlike lidhinged along one of its longitudinal edges to the base with anadjustable wing or wings movable or shiftable to an extended position togive a roomy wide effect to the base, when the lid is open and into aposi- 25 tion to be within the outline of the base to permit closing ofthe lid.

It further has for its object a simple and economical base constructionfor coacting with the boxlike lid.

Other objects will appear throughout the specification.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

35 In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of this casket with 40 the lid being open.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail View showing the hinge between thewings and the parts to 45 which they are hinged.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view of the end wing and one of theside wings showing the interlock between the same when they are inclosed position.

50 This casket comprises, generally, a comparatively flat tablelikebase, a boxlike lid hinged along one of its longitudinal edges to thebase, an adjustable or shiftable wing or wings arranged to providelateral extensions of the body sup- 55 porting surface of the base andshiftable laterally to give a wide roomy appearance, when the lid isopen, and movable inwardly, so as not to interfere with the closing ofthe lid, all whereby a casket of minimum size can be adjusted for largerbodies so that a casket of standard size 5 can be supplied, which willreceive, without giving a crowded appearance, bodies of all sizes orwidths.

l designates the base; 2 the lid. The base is here shown as formed oflower and upper sheet metal sections 3, 4, these being shown asrectangular and formed with bottom, side and end walls with the lowersection arranged inverted, so that the bottoms of the two sectionsoverlie each other. The lower section is of greater length and widththan the upper section and the upper section arranged concentric withthe lower section, thereby providing a ledge at 5. The bottoms of thetwo sections are secured together in any suitable manner, as by welding.Preferably, a marginal frame 6 of wood is arranged in the lower section,and the margins of the side and end walls are turned inwardly at 1 toprovide a channel in which the marginal frame 6 is seated. A suitablemattress, indicated at 8, is 5 located in the upper section 4 with itsupper body supporting surface above the upper edges of the side walls ofthe upper section 4. The lid 2 is also formed up of sheet metal to havea domeshaped top 9, side and end walls It! and II and rectangular beadsI2, I3 are located at the upper and lower margins of the side and endwalls II], II. The beads l2, 13 not only strengthen the sheet metalstructure but also cause the side and end walls to be inset or have apanel appearance.

A margin frame l3 of wood is located in the bead l3.

The lid is hinged at H! along one longitudinal lower edge to the base Ior the ledge 5 and when closed, the lid seats throughout the entirelength of its lower edge on the ledge 5.

As here shown, hinge leaves I5 are mounted on the ledge 5 through whichthe hinge pins l4 extend into the lid. The lid is held closed in anysuitable manner.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the means by which thecasket is adjustable for receiving bodies of different widths or bywhich wider bodies do not have a crowded appearance when in a casket ofminimum width, comprises one or more wings adjustable widthwiserelatively to the base and movable into a position, whereby they do notinterfere with the closing of the lid, when the lid is closed.

As here illustrated, two adjustable wings are I of the upper section ofthe base.

provided extending along the front and rear longitudinal edges of thebase. l6 and I1 designate respectively these wings, the wing I! beinglocated within the lid and hinged at l8 to one of the side walls of thelid near but spaced apart, in a radial direction, from the hinge I4 ofthe lid. The wing it is hinged at l9 to the upper margin of the outerside wall of the upper section 4 of the base I. Both wings extend abovethe plane of the body supporting surface of the base I or above thesurface of the mattress 8 and are movable into different inclinations toaccommodate bodies of different widths. They are also movable upwardlyinto-an upright position to permit the closing of the lid. The hinges I8 and I9 are built to work with sufficient frie tion to remain in anyangular position. The wing I! has a shield 20 hinged at 2| thereto andextending across the space between it and the upper section 4 of thebase, this shield being usually of sheet metal. Means is provided forlimiting the pivotal movement of the wing I! about its hinge in eitherdirection. This means is here shown as a slot 22 formed in the shield 20and a pin or stop 23 extending through the slot and into one of the sidewalls of the upper section 4, so that the extent of pivotal movement ofthe. wing l1 depends upon the length of the slot 22. This is forthepurpose of preventing undue crowding of a particularly wide body whenthe lid is closed. Also, a similar wing 24 is provided at the head endof the base I, this being hinged to the end wall of the base in the samemanner as the wing 16 is hinged to the side wall end wing 24 and thewing I6 are provided with means for locking them together when both arefolded into upright position, preliminary to closing the lid. As hereshown, one of the wings, as the end wing 24, is provided with a fiatpivoted hook 25,

the bill of which enters a suitable eye or recess 26 in the end of thewing IS.

The adjustable Wings in the illustrated embodiment of my inventionextend about half of the length of the base, and there is an additionalwing 21 forming a continuation of the wing I 6, this extending along theside of the foot end of the base.

28 designates an inner cover or lid for covering the lower half of thebody. This is here shown as hinged to the lid on an axis coextensivewith the axis l8 of the wing I! with the side wall 29' thereof forming acontinuation of the wing l 6 when the lid 2 is closed. The free edge ofthis lid coacts with the upper edge of the wing 21.

After the body is laid out by the undertaker in the casket, the lid 28is closed in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, it closing againstthe edge of the wing 21.

A casket with a half inner lid 28 is called 'a' half-couch, as the lowerhalf of the body only is covered by an inner lid 28. In full-couchcasket, the lid 28 is omitted. V

The inner surfaces of the lids and the wings are covered with a suitableornamental lining. In operation, for a relatively small or slim adultbody, the wings I6, ll may be adjusted to a nearly vertical position,and for wider bodies, the wings are moved outwardly on their hinges intogreater inclinations. Whenthe casket to be closed, the wings l6 and 24are moved into an upright position and interlocked together by the hook25. The Wing #6 comes into alinement with the wing 27, which is providedwith a suitable latch 33 at the margin thereof movable from the positionshown in Figure i into a horizontal position to hold the wing I6 fromoutward displacement or hold the wing I6 flush with the wing 21. Thewing 21 is held from outward displacement by reason of the fact that itlaps at 35 under the margin at the outer side of the inner lid 28. Thus,the Wings 24 .and it are moved into position where they do not interferewith the closing of the lid 2. When the lid 2 is closed, the wing I!being pivoted at a point radially to the outward relatively to the hingeis of the lid, moves slightly inwardly, until limited by the pin orshoulder 24 coming into engagement with one end of the slot 22, so thatthe wing I! does not interfere with the closing of the lid by cominginto engagement with the side wall thereof to Whichit i's'pivoted.During closing movement of the lid 2,the inner lid 28 will alsoincidentally move slightly upwardly therewith but this is of noconsequence, as it does not move the inner lid 28 far enough tointerfere withthe closing of the lid. It obvious that by reason of theadjustable wings l6 and H or either of them, one casket of standard sizemay be used for adult bodies of different widths, and in all cases, a

roomy uncrowded effect is given.

a great saving in cost of manufacture and in funeral cost, and itfurther effects a great saving, as the undertaker instead of carrying'alarge stock of various sizes can carry but a few in any one style.

What I claim is:-

1. A burial casket comprising a base element having a body supportingsurface, a boxlike lid element closable on the margin of the baseelement having side and end walls which form the sides and ends of thecasket when closed, and which coact with the base element near the levelof said body supporting surface, and means normally extending laterallybeyond the base element and forming an extension'of the body supportingsurface thereof, said means being shiftable into a position within theoutline of the base element to permit closing of the lid element.

2. A burial casket comprising a base element having a body supportingsurface, a boxlike lid element closable on the margin of the baseelement, and means normally extending laterally beyond the base elementand forming an extension of the body supporting surface thereof, saidmeans being shiftable into a position within the outline of the baseelement to permit closing of the lid element, the lid element beinghinged to one margin of the base element and said means having a bodysupporting surface, a boxlike lid. element closable on the margin of thebase element, and means normally extending laterally beyond the baseelement and forming an extension of the body supporting surface thereof,said means being shiftable into a position withinthe outline of the baseelement to permit closing of" the lid element, the lid elementbeinghinged to one margin of the base element, and said means includinga wing hinged to the margin of' one side wall of the lid element at apoint parallel to and radially spaced from the hinge of the'lid element,whereby the wing is movable upward and inward during closing of the lid.element into position to permit the lid element to close down on thebase element.

4. A burial casket comprising a base element having a body supportingsurface, a boxlike lid element closable on the margin of the baseelement having side and end Walls which form the sides and ends of thecasket when closed, and which coact with the base element near the levelof said supporting surface, and means normally extending laterallybeyond the base element and forming an extension of the body supportingsurface thereof, said means being shiftable into a position within theoutline of the base element to permit closing of the lid element, saidmeans including adjustable Wings extending along opposite side marginsof the base element.

5. A burial casket comprising a base element having a body supportingsurface, a boxlike lid element closable on the margin of the baseelement, and means normally extending laterally beyond the base elementand forming an extension of the body supporting surface thereof, saidmeans being shiftable into a position within the outline of the baseelement to permit closing of the lid element, said means including wingsextending laterally and upwardly above the surface of the base element,one wing being hinged to the base element and the other to the hingedmargin of the lid element, the wings being shiftable on their hingesfrom an outward inclination toward the vertical to permit closing of thelid element on the base element.

6. A burial casket comprising a tablelike base element having a bodysupporting surface, a boxlike lid element hinged to the base element andclosable on the margin of the base element having sideand end wallswhich form the sides and ends of the casket when closed, and which coactwith the base element near the level of said body supporting surface,and a wing movably mounted on and shiftable relatively to one of saidelements, and arranged to form a side Wall for the base, the wing beingmovable into position to come within the margin of the lid to permitclosing of the lid element.

'7. A burial casket comprising a tablelike base element having a bodysupporting surface, a boxlike lid element hinged to the base element andclosable on the margin of the base element, and a wing hinged to one ofsaid elements near the plane of the body supporting surface of the baseelement and forming an upwardly and laterally extending wall for thebase element, the wing being movable about the axis of its hinge towithin the outline of the base element into position to permit closingof the lid.

8. A burial casket comprising a tablelike base element having a bodysupporting surface, a boxlike lid hinged to the base and closable on themargin of the base element having side and end walls which form thesides and ends of the casket when closed, and which coact with the baseelement near the level of said body supporting surface, a wing movablymounted on the base and extending laterally beyond the edge of the baseproviding an extension of the body supporting surface of the base, saidWing being movable into a position to come within the margin of the baseto permit closing of the lid.

9. A burial casket comprising a tablelike base having a body supportingsurface, a boxlike lid hinged to the base and closable on the margin ofthe base, and a wing carried by the lid and movable relatively thereto,the Wing being arranged within the lid and to extend from below to abovethe body supporting surface of the base, when the lid is open.

10. A burial casket comprising a tablelike base having a body supportingsurface, a boxlike lid hinged to the base and closable on the margin ofthe base, and a wing hinged to the lid near the lower edge thereof at apoint spaced radially from the hinge connecting the lid to the base, thewing extending from below to above the body supporting surface of thebase.

11. A burial casket comprising a tablelike base having a body supportingsurface, a boxlike lid hinged near its lower edge to the base andclosable on the margin of the base, wings extending along oppositemargins of the base and forming lateral extensions of the bodysupporting surface of the base, and adjustable into different angularpositions and being also movable into a position to come within the lid,when the lid is closed, and the other wing being hinged to the lid nearthe hinged lower edge thereof and to the outward radially relatively tothe hinge between the lid and the base.

12. A burial casket comprising a tablelike base element having a bodysupporting surface, a boxlike lid element hinged at its lower edge tothe base and closable on the margin of the base, laterally adjustablewings, each carried by one of said elements at the side edges of thebase and forming extensions of the body supporting surface of the baseand shiftable into positions to come within the outline of the base topermit closing of the lid, the lid element including side and end Wallswhich form the side and end walls of the casket when closed, the lidcoacting with the base near the level of the body supporting surface.

13. A burial casket comprising a tablelike base element having a bodysupporting surface, and a boxlike lid element hinged to the base elementand closable on the margin thereof, a wing movably mounted on one ofsaid elements and extending laterally beyond the outline of the baseelement forming a lateral continuation of the body supporting surface ofthe base element, another wing hinged to the base element at one endthereof and extending beyond the end of the base element and forming alineal continuation of the body supporting surface of the base element,the wings being movable into an upright position to come within theoutline of the base element, when the lid element is closed, the boxlikelid having side and end walls which constitute the side and end walls ofthe casket when closed, said end walls coacting with the base near thelevel of the body supporting surface.

14. A burial casket comprising a tablelike base having a body supportingsurface, a boxlike lid hinged along one of its lower edges to the basebeneath the plane of the body supporting surface and closable on themargin of the base, wings extending lengthwise of the longitudinal edgesof the base and arranged to form lateral extensions of the bodysupporting surface of the base, one of the wings being hinged to thebase and the other being hinged to the lid within the same at a pointradially outwardly relatively to the axis of the lid, the wings beingadjustable into different angular positions and movable into a positionwithin the margin of the base, to permit closing of the lid.

15. A burial casket comprising a base including lower and upper sheetmetal parts, each having a bottom, side and end walls, the lower partbeing inverted so that its bottom is upward and thenargins of the lowerpart extend beyond the sides and ends of the upper part forming a ledge,the bottoms being secured together, the base being provided with a bodysupporting surface, and a boxlike lid having top, side and end walls,one of the side walls being hinged tothe base on the ledge thereof, thelower edge of the lid resting on said ledge, when the lid is closed, awing hinged to the lid within the same at a point to the outwardradially relatively to the hinged axis of the lid and extending upwardbeyond the PATRICK D. SKAHEN.

